Arts and Health
DADAA promotes social inclusion for people with disabilities or a mental illness by engaging them in studio practice that can lead to further artistic and cultural development and opportunities.
Where the arts and health sectors collide lies an exciting field of practice with several distinct areas of activity:
- Arts in Healthcare settings
- Community Arts in Health
- Arts Therapy
DADAA has been at the forefront of the Australian Arts and Health movement over the past twelve years, initially developing the organisation’s practice and approach within large residential health care settings in the suburbs of Perth. Here, DADAA’s first staff trialed the development of Arts and Disability practices through a combination of community theatre, visual and public art, CCD projects, video production and community writing.
Highly segregated at this time within institutional confines, DADAA’s capacity to meet the broader cultural participation needs of Western Australians with disabilities was narrow. What quickly became apparent to staff working with DADAA at this time was the need to respond to the stated desire of people with disabilities, through the development of community-based programs, outside of clinical or accommodation support settings.
This move saw DADAA relocate to Fremantle and commence long-term relationships with the Cities of Fremantle and Melville, who played a critical role in supporting DADAA to facilitate community arts projects that were inclusive of local people with disabilities. DADAA has subsequently also established administration, studio and gallery space in Midland.
Today DADAA works across 46 WA communities with staff and programs located in 11 local government areas. The organisation offers a highly flexible and individualised program, providing a mix of inclusive, segregated, community-based, regional, institutionalised and residential programs six days a week around WA.
DADAA’s approach to Arts and Health is largely hybrid, marrying practices more usually associated with community arts practices with health service models, such as social participation, respite, intensive family support and aged care.
Key to the organisation’s practice is the central role of the artsworker as core to all programs. Therapeutic outcomes for participants are valued by DADAA; however, they are measured as secondary outcomes against cultural and artistic participation and outputs.
To date DADAA’s real interest in Arts and Health has been focused on the use of Arts and Health as a tool through which to promote social goals for excluded members of the community, particularly for people with disabilities and/or mental illness. DADAA’s intent has not been focused on cultural access alone, but also on reflecting the incredible cultural and social voice of people with disabilities and/or a mental illness, on promoting self-advocacy through the arts and on celebrating the unique perspectives of these communities.
DADAA Midland: Nurturing Cultural Participation Through Studio Practice
DADAA MIdland is a hub of arts participation, offering a number of CCD opportunities for people with disabilities or a mental illness.
FOCUS Community Arts Program
FOCUS offers arts program for adults with persistent psychiatric disabilities. It targets people who live in the Swan region. Workshops are suitable for people of all abilities and no previous experience is required.Participants gain opportunities to exhibit and sell their work and to progress through community-based workshops to accredited training. FOCUS Gallery presents exhibitions featuring work by FOCUS Studio artists.
For more information, contact Denise Bowyer on (08) 9250 7633 or email denise@dadaawa.asn.au.
FLIGHT Access
The Flight program is a joint project between DADAA and the Joondalup and Clarkson Community Mental Health Services. The Flight program offers art workshops for adults with psychiatric disabilities who wish to access opportunities to create, exhibit and sell drawings, paintings and ceramics. No previous art experience is required.For more information, contact Denise Bowyer on (08) 9250 7633 or email denise@dadaawa.asn.au.
IntegrATE
IntegrATE incorporates the Alternatives to Employment (ATE) and Post-School Options (PSO) DSC programs, which offer adults with disabilities the opportunity to increase participation and inclusion in their local communities. This is achieved by enhancing individual skills, confidence, experience and ability to explore independent living skills, recreation, cultural pursuits and employment opportunities.For more information, contact Denise Bowyer on (08) 9250 7633 or email denise@dadaawa.asn.au.